Ozzy Osbourne got back on stage with his Black Sabbath mates for one last, great show on Saturday. It was right to name it Back To The Beginning. The show was at Birmingham's Villa Park, a spot with deep meaning, as it is in the city where Black Sabbath first made their deep, heavy sound that would spark many metal bands in the future.
At 76, after long years of tough health fights, like his big battle with Parkinson's, Ozzy Osbourne beat the odds to thank his true fans face to face. He hit the stage like a king of the dark, sitting on a dark quilted seat with a big bat on top. This was a nod to the wild moment that once shook the world and left its crazy mark.
With Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward by his side, all playing together for the first time since 2005, he gave a show that was as much about real gratitude as it was about loud guitar sounds. The big place, full to the brim with true fans, made a loud noise as Ozzy Osbourne, his voice shaking with feeling but still very strong, said thanks to the people for staying with him through years of mess, songs, and tough spirit.
For the ones there, the night was not just a show; it was a big goodbye for a trailblazer who made heavy metal a big deal in culture, leaving a mark that will ring out in loudspeakers and brave hearts for a long time.
When Ozzy Osbourne stepped onto the Villa Park stage wearing his famous long black leather coat, eyes rimmed in his usual dark makeup, fans got that they were seeing more than just a show. He called out to the crowd of over 42,000 metal fans with a fierce shout:
"It's so good to be on this f***ing stage… Let the madness begin!"
This is bringing back the wild spirit that first shook Birmingham 56 years ago when Black Sabbath came to life. Yet, under the loud sounds and big acts, there was a deep sense of saying goodbye. For a lot of time, Ozzy Osbourne has been in a hard fight with his health, seven ops in just five years, plus his battle with Parkinson's since 2019.
These reflected on Saturday as well as he stopped between songs, grabbing water and throat spray to help his rough voice. Yet, when he began to sing, his known voice broke the quiet of the night like a sharp cut, fighting the tough odds facing him. Sharon Osbourne, his wife and manager, was there, sadly knowing this show might be the last time.
Yet on this night in Birmingham, the same city where a group of working men once made the start of heavy metal out of smoke from mills and sound of church bells, Ozzy Osbourne found the power to thank his fans for being there with him through the mess, the drugs, the bad times, and the fixes.
For Sharon, who just shared new fears about Ozzy Osbourne's health, the feelings were clear as she saw him take in the cheers one last time on the stage. It was more than a show; it was a love note to each fan who stayed for the crazy times, a sign that even when the Prince of Darkness gets tired, the story won't just fade away into the night.
Ozzy Osbourne's final show was loud, not soft, a big party for one of metal's biggest stars. The night had stars like Metallica, Slayer, Guns N' Roses, and Halestorm on the stage with rock greats Steven Tyler, Ronnie Wood, Yungblud, Travis Barker, and Chad Smith. These big names didn't just play their own songs, they came together for big "supergroup" plays that made the crowd feel the old times and thrill.
As the event went on, the screens showed messages from other artists and well-known fans. From Billy Idol's punk style to Dolly Parton's country feel, from Ricky Gervais' smart jokes to Sir Elton John's kind words, they all gave props to the Prince of Darkness and the band that made heavy metal a big deal all over the world.
Jason Momoa, who was the host, told the people that for many who felt left out or had big dreams, Black Sabbath's music was more than just noise; it was a home. The plan for this one-off event came right from Sharon Osbourne's strong will to witness her husband's last performance on the stage.
After health issues made him drop his 2023 tour dates, something Ozzy Osbourne did not see coming, Sharon made sure he could give a real thanks to his fans who had been with him for over fifty years. The money made from the big show will go to help causes dear to the Osbourne family: Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Acorns Children's Hospice.
The show was also a win for Black Sabbath and their deep link with their own city. This past summer, the city let the band have the freedom of Birmingham, in praise of the four guys who turned their working town into the home of heavy metal music.
Since they got together in 1968, Black Sabbath's loud riffs and spooky words have sold more than 75 million records, got them into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, won them Lifetime Achievement awards at Ivor Novello in 2015 and at the Grammys in 2019 apart from another Grammy in the Best Metal Performance category in 2014.
As the last sounds took over, the sky above the stage lit up with fireworks while fans yelled out Ozzy Osbourne's name, filling him with that wild, bold energy that made his live shows so famous. This goodbye show was called Back to the Beginning, and it felt just right, a full turn that brought everyone back to where it all started.
It was the grand rock and metal event made to honor the man who made this genre a way of life. For all who were there, it was not just a show; it was a night that marked its spot in heavy metal history. It showed that Ozzy Osbourne's mark will live on long after the music stops.
Black Sabbath’s last gig was not just a goodbye to a band. It was a strong sign of how much their sounds made heavy metal and moved many who make music and fans, too. For Ozzy Osbourne, who had to leave touring early due to health woes, this last show was more than just a stage act. It was a way to face his true fans one last time and show thanks in his style: with loud guitars, big drums, and people yelling his name all through the night.
Though Ozzy Osbourne may not tour anymore, the mark he and Black Sabbath made will keep ringing where heavy metal is loved, showing that even if the lights go out and the stage is silent, real rock stars never truly leave.
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TOPICS: Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath